Five delegates from Kota Bharu attended the 2 and half-days' Penang Diocesan Synod held at St. Anne's Church Bukit Mertajam. They were Fr. Francis Andrew, Gerard Yeo, Joseph Wang, Sr. Carol and Nicholas Martin. It was a good experience of living and participation in sessions and discussions. All delegates were given a book on the History of the Diocese of Penang written by Sr. Maureen Chew, IJ, The purpose of the Synod is to set the direction for the next 10 years by the process of the Three R's - Recalling, Review and Renew. The history of the last 40 years since 1976 -when the Arggionomento (Renewal) was held in College General in Penang for the whole month of August, where all the priests from Peninsular Malaysia congregated and deliberated on how to make the church relevant to the modern times. 10 years later in 1986, PMPC I was held in Port Dickson to review and renew. PMPC II was held in Plentong and PMPC III in Kuala Lumpur. All the conventions came up with 4 basic core needs, Ongoing Formation, Unity within the church, Dialogue with other religions, Social concern for the poor and Ministry for the youth (added in 1996). The final vision is a Church which is the Communion of Communities (BEC's) centered on Christ, the Word of God and the Eucharist.
(Photo credits: Jospeh Wang, Victor Joseph, Nicholas Martin)
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| The Synod Booklet |
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| View inside St. Anne's Church Bukit Mertajam, venue of the Penang Diocesan Synod |
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| Organising Chairman, Fr. Jude Miranda with Fr. Henry Rajoo |
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| Fr. Fabian Dicom |
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| The Bishop also participated in the proceedings |
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| The 390 delegates from all the parishes in the Diocese of Penang |
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| Dr. Steven Selvaraju, Director of PDPI |
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| All the priests were also present for the Synod |
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| Professor Terence Gomez, giving the Keynote address on Global trends and Malaysian Realities |
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| Question and Answer time |
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| Bishop Sebastian Francis thanking the Professor. |
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| The Bishop introducing one of the Fathers of Mercy sent by Rome |
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| Groups within the cluster, engaged in discussing the priorities |
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| The Unity group attended by Gerard Yeo and his cousin, Edmund Yeo (Tanjung Malim) |
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| Sr. Maureen Chew, author of The History of the Diocese of Penang |
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| Bishop Sebastian serving wine to Fr. Marshall Fernandez |
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| Nickolas Martin and his friends |
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| Having breakfast with two seminarians |
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| Dinner and Fellowship time with some old firends |
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| Sr. Carol and Gerard doing the Pongoh-Pongoh |
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| Live entertainment by some parish groups |
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| Fr. Francis Leading the Morning prayers |
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| Bishop Sebastian Francis, giving his homily during the Final Eucharist |
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| Welcoming Tan Sri Mohan, from the Hindu Sangam |
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| The invited VIP guests |
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| Anglican Bishop Charles and Tan Sri Mohan |
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| Catholic and Anglican Bishop side by side |
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| Delegates pose for a foto with the Bishop during the dinner |
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| Making time to enter through the Door of Mercy |
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| Entertainment time |
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| Dramatization of the Matyrs of College General by the seminarians |
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